I'm planning an experiment where I want to study the effects of the activation of glucocorticoid receptors on astrocytes in vitro (not sure yet if it will be mouse or human cells). I read many articles that used dexamethasone and I was wondering if it was better to use that than cortisol or corticosterone. And if yes, why?
Thank you in advance!
...cortisol and corticosterone
When rats and mice are stressed, blood levels of corticosterone rise to a greater extent than cortisol, while the opposite is true in humans.Article The stressed brain of humans and rodents
Most mammalian species (including rodents; only rats and mice are exceptions and have mainly corticosterone) have cortisol as their predominant glucocorticoids. Therefore I suggest to use corticosterone if mice cells are used and cortisol with humans. If you aim in elucidating the physiological response, I would take the natural glucocorticoids and not synthetic ones like dexamethasone.
Dear Prof. Rupert Palme, thank you, you have clarified and supplemented my answer. I truly admire your scientific achievements.